Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Defeated By No. 20 West Virginia, 48-17
October 15, 2016 | Football
Tech returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 22, against Oklahoma at 7 p.m. inside Jones AT&T Stadium
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Skylar Howard ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead No. 20 West Virginia past Texas Tech, 48-17, on Saturday to keep the Mountaineers unbeaten and in the hunt for the Big 12 title.
The Mountaineers (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) held Texas Tech (3-3, 1-2) to its lowest offensive output this season, just 379 yards. Patrick Mahomes II threw for 305 yards, his second-lowest passing total of the season, and was replaced in the fourth quarter by Nic Shimonek.
A 14-point turnaround in the second quarter helped the Mountaineers gain momentum. Sean Walters' interception at the West Virginia 11 led to a TD pass from Howard to Justin Crawford at the other end of the field to put the Mountaineers up 17-7.
Howard completed 21 of 31 passes for 318 yards. Rushel Shell, who finished with 104 yards rushing for West Virginia, scored two rushing TDs in the fourth quarter as the Mountaineers pulled away.
TAKEAWAYS:
West Virginia: The Mountaineers improved their success dramatically in the red zone. Coming into the game, West Virginia had found the end zone on just eight of 18 trips inside opponents' 20 (44 percent). They scored on each of their eight trips there Saturday.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' streak of nine home games with at least 50 points -- an NCAA record -- ended with this loss. Their offense was stymied in every facet by West Virginia's defense. Texas Tech's run game, which typically sets up the pass, finished with just 34 rushing yards.
UP NEXT:
West Virginia: The Mountaineers host TCU next Saturday.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders host Oklahoma next Saturday.
Team Stats

WVU 7, TTU 0
WVU - Crawford, J 10 yd run (Molina, Mike kick), 9 plays, 91 yards, TOP 2:59

WVU 7, TTU 7
TTU - Giles, Jonathan 44 yd pass from Mahomes, P. (Hatfield, C. kick) 9 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:35

WVU 10, TTU 7
WVU - Molina, Mike 34 yd field goal 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 1:34

WVU 17, TTU 7
WVU - Crawford, J 5 yd pass from Howard, Skyler (Molina, Mike kick) 10 plays, 89 yards, TOP 4:05

WVU 24, TTU 7
WVU - Howard, Skyler 8 yd run (Molina, Mike kick), 7 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:56

WVU 24, TTU 10
TTU - Hatfield, C. 42 yd field goal 10 plays, 51 yards, TOP 4:56

WVU 27, TTU 10
WVU - Molina, Mike 22 yd field goal 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:00

WVU 34, TTU 10
WVU - Howard, Skyler 1 yd run (Molina, Mike kick), 8 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:58

WVU 41, TTU 10
WVU - Shell, Rushel 14 yd run (Molina, Mike kick), 3 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:21

WVU 41, TTU 17
TTU - Giles, Jonathan 16 yd pass from Shimonek, Nic (Hatfield, C. kick) 8 plays, 48 yards, TOP 2:11

WVU 48, TTU 17
WVU - Shell, Rushel 3 yd run (Molina, Mike kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:57